Czech Republic

National Reform Programme is a document describing reforms to be implemented by the Czech Republic in the framework of the Lisbon agenda. The document is based on the integrated guidelines prepared by the European Commission to give clear guidance to member states in the following areas - macroeconomy, microeconomy and employment. Czech National Reform Programme was approved by the Czech Government on 20th October 2008.

Czech National Strategic Reference Framework 2007-2013 (NSRF) is a basic programming document for structural funds in the Czech Republic for the programming period 2007-2013. Preparation of NSRF is implied by obligations arising from Council Regulation (EC) 1083/2006 from 11th July 2006 about General provision of European Regional Development Funds, European Social Fund and Cohesion Fund. Czech NSRF is based on National Development Plan of the Czech Republic which was approved by the Czech Government in 2006 (resolution 175/2006). Analytical part of NSRF focuses on SWOT analysis of the Czech Republic from a viewpoint of competitiveness and sustainable growth. Formulated strategy is based on the European as well as domestic strategic documents (Sustainable Growth Strategy, Strategy of Economic Growth, Strategy for Regional Development 2007-2013). NSRF sets out priorities for interventions of structural funds and stipulates the system of operational programmes for period 2007-2013.

Operational Programme Research and Development for Innovations is one of the sectorial operational programmes which are implemented in the Czech Republic in the programming period 2007-2013. As is already clear from its name, its main focus is support to research and innovations. The global objective of the OP R&DI is to strengthen the research, development and innovation potential of the Czech Republic that shall contribute to its economic growth, competitiveness and to the creation of highly qualified workplaces so that the Czech regions can become important locations for the concentration of these activities within Europe. This operational programme is open mainly to universities and other public as well as private research organisations.

National Policy of Research, Development and Innovations 2009-2015 (NPRDI) is a strategic document performing the first principal steps of Reform of the system of research, development and innovations in the Czech Republic as approved by the Resolution of the Government of 26 March 2008 No. 287. The document imposes basic principal steps and responsibility for the performing of measures mainly for state administrative bodies.  The aim of NPRDI is to form a framework for achievement of measures in the field of research, development and innovations that will stimulate development of knowledge society and will lead to enhanced competitiveness of Czech economy and improvement of quality of life of Czech citizens. NPRDI reacts on the shortcoming of current framework conditions for research, development and innovations.

The reform was approved by the Czech Government on 26th March 2008 with the vision: To create an innovative environment through reforming the system of research, development and innovation in the Czech Republic in order to be held true that "Science makes knowledge from money, innovation makes money from knowledge." This main objective of the Reform may also be formulated in a different way - public funds invested into basic research must bring a true new knowledge (and not only in the context of the Czech Republic, but in comparison with other world). The public funds invested into the applied research, development and innovation must bring concrete economic or other social benefit from their realization.

In its resolution 16/2000 of January 5th 2000 the Czech Government approved the National Research and Development Policy of the Czech Republic. R&D policy states principles for research and development, which form the basis for implementation measures conducted by ministries and other state institutions. Main aim of the policy is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Czech R&D, ensure renewal of R&D facilities, development of human resources and involve these resources in solving prospective needs of Czech citizens, society and economy. R&D results and their application in all spheres of society are particularly stressed.

Priorities for Applied Research, Development and Innovations stipulate the main areas of research, which should be supported by state. Emphasis was put on more active involvement and participation of companies and private sector in general, including its financial participation. The priorities were approved by Czech R&D Council in 2008.
There are eight priorities: Priorities for Applied Research, Development and Innovations stipulate the main areas of research, which should be supported by state. Emphasis was put on more active involvement and participation of companies and private sector in general, including its financial participation. The priorities were approved by Czech R&D Council in 2008. There are eight priorities: 1) Biological and ecological of sustainable development; 2) Molecular biology and biotechnologies; 3) Energy resources; 4) Materials research;  5) Machinery and engineering; 6) Information society; 7) Security and defence; 8) Priorities of Czech society development.

National Innovation Policy of the Czech Republic 2005-2010 (NIP) is an important strategy which establishes conditions for innovative environment within the Czech Republic. Most of the measures of the strategy are directed mainly to the state administration, while some of them are to be implemented by universities and public research institutions. NIP establishes conditions for attaining such state of affairs, in which enterprises and other organisations in the Czech Republic actively innovate their products, technologies and services, as well as methods of organisation and management and ensure a steady growth of labour productivity and competitiveness on international markets, while maintaining high levels of employment.